There are big ticket sales at the Greenbelt festival this year

WITH ITS return to its traditional August Bank holiday slot, the Greenbelt festival reports a big I increase in its ticket sales from last year's hurriedly arranged event. Greenbelt are now predicting an attendance at Cheltenham's Race Course of between nine and 10 thousand on August 25th to 28th. The line-up for Britain's longest running Christian arts festival now includes Martyn Joseph (who will be visiting Greenbelt with his musical associate Tom Robinson); teen pop sensations the Dum Dums; American CCM favourites All Star United: DJ Spoony (Dreem Teem); pop star Billy Bragg; opera star Willard White; black gospel veteran Jessy Dixon; sanctified dance specialists Abundant; US country rock man Buddy Miller; Irish singer/songwriter lain Archer; Milton Keynes Britpop band Fono; reggae veteran Ben Okafor; African roots musicians Black Umfelose; former lead singer of Why? Ant Parker; heavy rock band Narnia; Irish popster Booley; singing troubadour Garth Hewitt; American CCM star Sarah Masen; techno breakbeat specialists Psalmistry; Irish singer/songwriter Juliet Turner; DJ Rudeboyand others.

Said Greenbelt's Andy Thornton, "There is a great expectation about this year's event and moving back to August it is obvious we are attracting a lot of young people with over a thousand 12-17 year olds set to come. There are still one or two top pop names that could be added to the bill and we are really looking forward to a brilliant event."